On life (131) – ”Loss of Principles” – 27/6/2016

   That day, his eyes were full of tears. Yet, he tried to hide them lest anybody see them. He moaned, “I expected betrayal some day in my life; but it never crossed my mind that my dearest friend will betray me.” This he said, then turned his face away and drowned in his memories which were, once, his only treasure.

   Cheating and betrayal are part of humanity’s diction. People try, by all means, to evade whatever reminds them of these painful words. To betray a friend means that you give him up. To betray your vow is to break it. To betray your country is to relinquish it to enemies. Hence, betrayal and treachery are antonymous to honesty and loyalty.

   Betrayal contravenes with what religions have decreed and humanity has set as tradition. It is said that friendship is a boat that is stirred by honesty, yet is drowned by betrayal. It is true that human relations might not endure for one reason or another. Yet, if betrayal intervenes with human relations, they are sure to be destroyed. In turn, safety and confidence will be shaken and the world will become a maze that leads man to the middle of nowhere.

   Man might betray his friends by giving them up, or by wasting money or souls that are kept under his custody. Likewise, misusing someone’s confidence is betrayal. It is the worst of all, for it transforms people’s simplicity and tenderness into harshness.

   Man might also betray himself when he abandons his values and principles. To abandon honesty at hard times is a terrible mistake, as this leads man to disrespecting himself. Principles, on the other hand, never forsake you, even if humans do. Neither will God, for He commands you to cling to truth, honesty, sincerity, love, mercy and all other principles.

   There is also betraying one’s country. This is “high treason”. All countries agreed this is the worst kind of betrayal. Thus, its perpetrators are sentenced to death. Wars and destruction are also a kind of betrayal to humanity and man’s role in making life, not destroying it. It is all about life, and on life… we shall continue.

General Bishop

Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center